(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's address to graduates at Northwestern University's spring commencement Monday was heavy on pop culture references and included digs at political adversaries in other states.
The Democratic governor, who received his law degree from Northwestern's law school, framed his address around the TV show "The Office," which he suggested contained most of the wisdom that graduates will need to succeed in the world.
Pritzker told graduates that after reviewing YouTube videos of other commencement addresses, he concluded the best graduation speeches are a lot like sitcoms: "They're short, they make you laugh, and they feature an oddball but loveable character."
As audience members laughed, he added, "Well, I'm your oddball character, folks."
In the meat of his speech, he referred to "The Office" character Dwight Schrute, a worker played by Rainn Wilson who was known to ask, “Would an idiot do that?”
“The best way to spot an idiot? Look for the person who is cruel,” Pritzker told graduates.
He said people who react with cruelty toward others who are different than they are have "failed the first test of an advanced society.”
"They never forced their animal brains to evolve past its first instinct," Pritzker said. "They never forged new mental pathways to overcome their own instinctual fears. And so, their thinking and problem-solving will lack the imagination and creativity that the kindest people have in spades."
Contributing: Editor Geoff Dankert
Related
Listen to our new podcast Courier Pigeon
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram